Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04
WHAT SHALL WE DO TO BE sAvEDs

We do not mean to preach sermon
but as one of our principal duties is
to look after and warn our people of
those things concerning their material,
moral and intellectual welfare, we
trust each one will ask himself this
questiOn-not saved spiritually, but
removed from the old time-served
position of hewers of wood and drawers
of water. The problem is easily
solved. Let us take this as the
genuine and proper answer to the
question: "Get morals, get land, get
learning"
The prosperity of any people depends
upon their morals, without which.
there is no substantial advancement.
While thousands of our people have
made rapid progress in every particular
we regret to say there is much more
immortality among us than should be.
As we have said before, our leaders
should be unspotted. When teacher,
preacher or leader in society loses the
confidence of his followers, and his
character is questioned, he should
be dropped at short notice and be no
longer trusted as a leader. We must
do this to have pure women and brave
men, and have them respected by all
good people and in order to save
ourselves from the curse of Gods
law laid down in the ten command
ments.
The Negro must become owners of
more land. They must stop smoking
cigars, drinking whiskey, pleasure
riding wearing fine jewelry, fine dress;
and first of all, stop going to law
with his neighbors. Fine dress and
fine dinner are Injuries for the rich.
Too often are our preachers in the
way of morals and material advance
ment They are themselves too fond
Of big dinners, fine cigars, &c. The
preacher that walks the streets smok-
ing cigars sets immoral and danger
Gus examples to rising and dependent
generation.
This is the scientific age of the
worlds history and the people must
become educated in the sciences and
and arts. Our boys and girls must
be encouraged and urged upon to
become educated and to read all
the professions as we'll as make them
selves proficient in all useful trades.
The heart and the hand must be educat-
ed as we'll as the head. With an
educated, wealthy and moral colored
population. we are safe at all times and
places. Safe from poverty, ignorance
and vice, and to great measure safe
from the dangers Of future punish
ment.
The character, the habit and destiny
Of the youth are fixed by surrounding
influences. If the home, school and
church training is such as will
animate and inspire the youth to
possess the moral, Christian virtues
of the best men and women of our
land, we will bring up an abundant
crop of intelligent, industrious
christians from the present generation.
The youth must be taught that idle
ness is not only wrong, but exceed
ingly dangerous; that ignorance and
idleness are burdensome with no
hope Of reward. That for all sin and
wickedncss both statute and divine
law stands always ready to punish,
for 1.-THE wages of sin is death"
A child should be compelled to
attend school every day during the
session unless he has lawful reason
to remain at home. Punctuality is
one Of the essentials for child TO
learn early in life and practice till
death. Children should attend Sun
day School every Sunday and go to
the Church Of the family and sit in
the family pew. Then to be saved
from the death of Ignorance and
poverty: Be sober, honest. indus
srHous, economical, intelligent, and
the Negro will soon be recognized as
The pesfNQf other msp,